-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Format Change Coming To 105.9 The Edge?
- Thread starter DToTheJ
- Start date
It could mean a change to a WMAL simulcast, a new and improved format, or they are just playing us. My money is with DCRTV Dave.
Like the format or not, it has just never found any serious traction in the market. It has big salaries and not much income. A top ten market Class B FM should be bringing in serious $$$. If it isn't, there will be changes, especially with new ownership. The DC metro has been "Classic Rock"ed to death, with diminishing success. Plenty of Urban and Hip Hop. The only new ground for an FM is a non-music format.
WMAL is a long time heritage AM that was the market leader, not for years, but decades. It hasn't been #1 for years, but it is still doing way better than 105.9 is. An FM simulcast would probably put WMAL back into the top 5 in the market. Follow the WTOP format. Start to rebrand WMAL as an FM, while looking for a stick with a better signal. And it's cheap, a couple of patch cords and reset the processing for talk. Everything else goes for promotion.
Seattle, Pheonix, San Francisco. FM's going to News or Talk is the new thing as younger music listeners go to iPods and Androids, leaving older listeners that prefer News/Talk, but are still young enough to have an anti-AM bias.
Not a sermon, just an opinion Old PD.
Like the format or not, it has just never found any serious traction in the market. It has big salaries and not much income. A top ten market Class B FM should be bringing in serious $$$. If it isn't, there will be changes, especially with new ownership. The DC metro has been "Classic Rock"ed to death, with diminishing success. Plenty of Urban and Hip Hop. The only new ground for an FM is a non-music format.
WMAL is a long time heritage AM that was the market leader, not for years, but decades. It hasn't been #1 for years, but it is still doing way better than 105.9 is. An FM simulcast would probably put WMAL back into the top 5 in the market. Follow the WTOP format. Start to rebrand WMAL as an FM, while looking for a stick with a better signal. And it's cheap, a couple of patch cords and reset the processing for talk. Everything else goes for promotion.
Seattle, Pheonix, San Francisco. FM's going to News or Talk is the new thing as younger music listeners go to iPods and Androids, leaving older listeners that prefer News/Talk, but are still young enough to have an anti-AM bias.
Not a sermon, just an opinion Old PD.
N
nocomradio
Guest
Back when 105.9 was WCXR it finally died trying to carry on the classic rock format.
Then 94.7 tried it for a number of years even taking on the Greaseman to try to stave off the inevitable. They too died.
One day, 105.9 was again a classic rocker. Looks like its on the way out too.
I like the classic rock format, but growing up in the DC area, I noticed very early on that it is a very transitional city in that not a lot of people stay long with tons of military personnel, political changes every few years, a few colleges, etc. It seems that it would be a changing market that would take a lot of adapting to keep going in unless you are a news station, or something like classical music.
Then 94.7 tried it for a number of years even taking on the Greaseman to try to stave off the inevitable. They too died.
One day, 105.9 was again a classic rocker. Looks like its on the way out too.
I like the classic rock format, but growing up in the DC area, I noticed very early on that it is a very transitional city in that not a lot of people stay long with tons of military personnel, political changes every few years, a few colleges, etc. It seems that it would be a changing market that would take a lot of adapting to keep going in unless you are a news station, or something like classical music.
@NoCom - I'd suspect that 105.9 made the switch from oldies (with Imus mornings) to classic rock to see just how PPM-friendly the rock format can be... and to paraphrase current 105.9 morning co-host Mike O'Meara used to sing a la Robert Goulet on the old "Don & Mike Show," the odds apparently do not appear to be in their favor...
@Old PD - I hear you loud and clear... perhaps the only way to compete would be for WMAL to simulcast on FM. And even if they could never top 'TOP, they could at least try and eat away at their huge share...
And given the fact that they just named their new PD this week, I like DCRTV's angle that 105.9 could make the switch to an FM simulcast tomorrow - 6/30 - matching the AM frequency... It would probably happen at 10:59 AM, of course...
@Old PD - I hear you loud and clear... perhaps the only way to compete would be for WMAL to simulcast on FM. And even if they could never top 'TOP, they could at least try and eat away at their huge share...
And given the fact that they just named their new PD this week, I like DCRTV's angle that 105.9 could make the switch to an FM simulcast tomorrow - 6/30 - matching the AM frequency... It would probably happen at 10:59 AM, of course...
If they were to make the change to simulcast WMAL, why wouldn't they do it on July 4th? By the way, I'm in the DC area today and still hear a Rush song on 105.9, so apparently your prediction didn't hold up.
Today is the beginning of most company's fiscal year, so if there is going to be a change, it will be soon.
I like TVradioguru's idea about the 4th. My personal preference would be the 5th, when people are coming back to work from the holiday.
Since a call leter change is not absolutely required to begin simulcasting, all that would have to be done is to talk up WMAL on the air as: 630 AM, and now 105.9 FM, and don't mention the FM calls except for the legal ID. File the call letter change at your convenience
Of course they may fool us, and do something completely different. But, my money still says that Tuesday at 6 AM you'll hear the ABC Information News intro jingle on 105.9.
I like TVradioguru's idea about the 4th. My personal preference would be the 5th, when people are coming back to work from the holiday.
Since a call leter change is not absolutely required to begin simulcasting, all that would have to be done is to talk up WMAL on the air as: 630 AM, and now 105.9 FM, and don't mention the FM calls except for the legal ID. File the call letter change at your convenience
Of course they may fool us, and do something completely different. But, my money still says that Tuesday at 6 AM you'll hear the ABC Information News intro jingle on 105.9.
N
nocomradio
Guest
This is going to put 'ol Cerphe out on the job hunt again.......
I think he's worked every classic rock gig in DC for the last 25 years or so.
I think he's worked every classic rock gig in DC for the last 25 years or so.
I find that there are certain formats that need to be programmed specifically for the market. You hear the classic rock hits on 105.9 but you don't hear the classic rock hits that may have been more popular in DC then in other markets. Cerphe is a DC radio legend. I used to listen to him when he was on DC 101. They should let him program the station.
DToTheJ said:
Actually, a money giveaway is most likely IMO. Simulcasting WMAL would mean that Citadel actually did something SMART.
I keep noticing the numbers that DCRTV publishes each week for WVRX... Not good...
2011 has seen a lot of rock outlets in major markets fade out, from New York's WRXP earlier this summer, to Philadelphia's WYSP next week. The possibility of WMAL simulcasting on 105.9 is a matter of when, not if. And don't count out "98 Rock" in Tampa as the FM simulcast of WFLA, either...
2011 has seen a lot of rock outlets in major markets fade out, from New York's WRXP earlier this summer, to Philadelphia's WYSP next week. The possibility of WMAL simulcasting on 105.9 is a matter of when, not if. And don't count out "98 Rock" in Tampa as the FM simulcast of WFLA, either...
The Edge was the worst single name they could have selected for a classic rocker. There's nothing edgy about classic rock and while you'll try to tell me that only "radio people" associate station names/words with formats, in the case of Edge I guarantee you that classic rock would be the last thing people would associate with that word. In the world of marketing, "edge" connotes youth, risk, danger, experimentation and forward looking perspectives without limits.
Look for Cumulus to install their new favorite format flavor and call it - Journey 105.9. They've got it on in Atlanta, Cincy and just flipped yesterday in Huntsville and Pensacola. Typical flow:
12:03 p.m. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” (1981)
12:07 p.m. Madonna “Holiday” (1984)
12:12 p.m. Michael Jackson “Rock With You” (1980)
12:15 p.m. Bon Jovi “Living on a Prayer” (1987)
12:19 p.m. Lenny Kravitz “It’ Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” (1991)
12:23 p.m. Simple Minds “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” (1985)
12:27 p.m. Pat Benatar “Love is a Battlefield” (1983)
12:32 p.m. Matchbox 20 “3 a.m.” (1998)
12:36 p.m. Animotion “Obsession” (1985)
12:40 p.m. Billy Idol “White Wedding” (1982)
12:44 p.m. Annie Lennox “Walking on Broken Glass” (1992)
12:48 p.m. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984)’
12:51 p.m. Ace of Base “All That She Wants” (1992)
12:55 p.m. Hall & Oates “Kiss on My List” (1981)
12:59 p.m. TLC “Waterfalls” (1995)
1:03 p.m. Was (Not Was) “Walk the Dinosaur” (1987)
1:06 p.m Seal “Crazy” (1991)
1:11 p.m. Don Henley “Boys of Summer” (1984)
1:15 p.m. Alanis Morrisette “You Oughta Know” (1985)
1:20 p.m. Toto “Africa” (1983)
Look for Cumulus to install their new favorite format flavor and call it - Journey 105.9. They've got it on in Atlanta, Cincy and just flipped yesterday in Huntsville and Pensacola. Typical flow:
12:03 p.m. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” (1981)
12:07 p.m. Madonna “Holiday” (1984)
12:12 p.m. Michael Jackson “Rock With You” (1980)
12:15 p.m. Bon Jovi “Living on a Prayer” (1987)
12:19 p.m. Lenny Kravitz “It’ Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” (1991)
12:23 p.m. Simple Minds “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” (1985)
12:27 p.m. Pat Benatar “Love is a Battlefield” (1983)
12:32 p.m. Matchbox 20 “3 a.m.” (1998)
12:36 p.m. Animotion “Obsession” (1985)
12:40 p.m. Billy Idol “White Wedding” (1982)
12:44 p.m. Annie Lennox “Walking on Broken Glass” (1992)
12:48 p.m. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984)’
12:51 p.m. Ace of Base “All That She Wants” (1992)
12:55 p.m. Hall & Oates “Kiss on My List” (1981)
12:59 p.m. TLC “Waterfalls” (1995)
1:03 p.m. Was (Not Was) “Walk the Dinosaur” (1987)
1:06 p.m Seal “Crazy” (1991)
1:11 p.m. Don Henley “Boys of Summer” (1984)
1:15 p.m. Alanis Morrisette “You Oughta Know” (1985)
1:20 p.m. Toto “Africa” (1983)
N
nocomradio
Guest
USA: That sounds like the average, SAM, BOB, Liberty or other 'We play anything" format that is so popular these days.
Tell me it ain't gonna be so. Bleah.........
Tell me it ain't gonna be so. Bleah.........
Not a fan of talk radio of any political stripe generally, but I gotta think that WMAL-FM is on the horizon. DC has to be the worst market for AM in the northeast. Most viable formats appear to be covered in the area. 105.9 was the second classic rock station. News, sports, 3 varieties of AC, alternative, country, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, and CHR all exist on FM. At best, another music format might be a CHR, but like Journey, that would eat into 107.3.
Additionally, the area is covered in a patchwork fashion by some fairly popular rimshot Hot AC and country stations from Frederick, Fredericksburg, Winchester, etc.
You oughta know? Really, no, you oughta know!
Additionally, the area is covered in a patchwork fashion by some fairly popular rimshot Hot AC and country stations from Frederick, Fredericksburg, Winchester, etc.
You oughta know? Really, no, you oughta know!
observer2 said:
Observer2 has the DC market nailed. There are no super AM signals here, no 50K non-directional 24 hour sticks, so FM is king.
My question is this: WMAL's top daypart is Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh comes from Premier which is part of Clear Channel. How long will CC wait while WMAL slowly sinks into AM oblivion before pulling their top shows, and putting them on one of their own, or someone else's competitive FM signal?
Washington is the most politicized city in the country. Political talk does well here.
I love AM radio, but it is in it's twilight, particularly in DC. Ibuz and the proliferation of other AM band noise producers have made all but the strongest AM signals unlistenable. If Cumulus/Citadel doesn't take WMAL to FM, how long will it be before their program suppliers make the decision for them? The next contract talks with Premier should be interesting.
Gotta think that MAL's chances of keeping Premiere's talk programming are good in DC.
Yes, CC owns five FM stations, but they own the top position on the classic rock, AC, country, alternative, and CHR formats in the market. I can't imagine CC would be keen on losing any of them, even though,as you say, political talk on FM should perform very well in the market.
So even though I think flipping one of the five CC stations seems like a bad move, WMAL needs to figure out where it needs to be five years from now, and get there in the next year.
Yes, CC owns five FM stations, but they own the top position on the classic rock, AC, country, alternative, and CHR formats in the market. I can't imagine CC would be keen on losing any of them, even though,as you say, political talk on FM should perform very well in the market.
So even though I think flipping one of the five CC stations seems like a bad move, WMAL needs to figure out where it needs to be five years from now, and get there in the next year.
- Status